1. I MET AN EMO BOY

I walked into class and saw him sitting all the way at the back next to the window. He was the first person I saw despite the room being completely full. He had platinum blonde hair that covered his eye. It was swooped to the side in that typical emo way. I didn't see much of him as he was kind of curled into himself, doodling in his notebook. He wore an over sized black and white striped hoodie. Even though I could barely see his face, just by his body language and his bizarre appearance I could tell he was absolutely depressed.

Honestly, I thought he looked kind of faggy.

"Dude." One of my friends said.

I finally looked at someone other than the outcast next to the window. "Hey man." I gave my friends Nick, Luke and Dave a bro hug and sat down next to Dave. He was co-captain of the football team and my best friend. We were really tight and always told each other everything.

"Look at Jennifer." He whispered in my ear.

I looked up as the most sought after girl in school walked in. She had long brown hair and icy blue eyes. She was dressed in a sexy red top with a short jean skirt that didn't leave much to the imagination. Her plump lips were glossy and calling my name. She had been the topic of my wet dreams since I was fourteen. She was the head cheerleader and we spoke often though still after all this time it was unclear whether she liked me or Dave. She gave us both equal attention, flirted with us both.

"Hey boys." She smiled when she reached our table.

"Hey Jen." We said simultaneously.

She smirked. That bitch. She knew exactly what her effect on us was and she was happy about it. We'd both asked her out at different points in time but she always said she had a church meeting(she was an atheist), or cheer practice. It was like she was waiting for one of us to prove we were worthy of her. We only ever hung out in groups. That's when she'd wear the shortest skirts and fling her hair and smile at us like it was an invitation. It was infuriating.

"Do you guys have plans this Friday?" She asked.

"No." Dave answered eagerly.

"Not at all." I agreed.

"A couple of us are going down to the beach. You guys coming?"

"Yeah, of course." Dave answered. I nodded and then the teacher came in.

"Alright class," Mr. Hammock began.

Jennifer rushed to her seat.

"I'm so excited about this new term. We're going to be analyzing poetry this season!" Mr. Hammock nearly squealed.

The entire class sighed and complained.

"Oh come on! It'll be fun! Shakespeare, Dickinson-"

"Gay!!" Dave remarked causing the whole class to laugh.

"It is not gay. It is simply emotional. We all feel emotions, the legends we'll be discussing have simply found a splendid way to express them!"

"When is he finally gonna come out?" I whispered to Dave. He chuckled.

"Well! Since you two are so close I think I'll be making the pairs for this assignment. Maybe with the right partner you'll learn to appreciate true art." Mr. Hammock said.

"Oh, come on!" Dave complained.

"We were just joking around!" I added.

"Dave, you go with Esmeralda,"

"Ugh!"

"Luke, you go with Tyler... Let's see..."

"I'm going to take a leak." I sighed as I got up.

"Yes, yes, escape the uncomfortable as always.." The teacher sighed before ranting on.

"Fuck off." I mumbled.

If I wasn't going with Dave it didn't matter anyway.

✪

I walked out of the bathroom and roamed around the hallway, not really doing anything. I honestly thought about going home and that was pathetic. This was the first class of the new school year and already I was thinking of quitting.

I sighed. Just one more year in high school after this and I'll be free.

I took a breath and dragged myself back inside.

The teacher was still going on and on about the assignment, giving examples and shit. How fucking boring. I sat back down.

"Alright. You may begin." Mr. Hammock smiled

I suddenly felt a strong hand on my shoulder.

"Good luck, dude." Dave laughed as he went to sit somewhere else.

"Huh? Why?"

Dave didn't answer. He just chuckled.

"Hi." I heard an unfamiliar voice and looked up to none other than the faggy loner I'd seen by the window. Goddamn, he was even more gay up close. Now that I could see his face he really started to make me uncomfortable. He honestly looked like a whole girl. Puffy, rosy cheeks, kissable, pouty lips. His eyes were blue and lined with black gayliner. He wore pants so tight, I could see everything. It was like he was trying to get me to punch him.

I was sure he noticed my confused look cause he said: "We're supposed to do this assignment together." He bit his lip and waited for me to say something.

I bit my tongue and moved away from the chair I was leaning on. I tried so hard not to call him all the ugliest names in the world. I didn't need to start the year with detention. Again.

I heard obnoxious giggling behind me. I turned around and noticed Dave and some of my other friends laughing at me.

"Shut the fuck up!"

Now they all burst out laughing. It was fucking embarrassing.

I turned away from them and stared out in front of me.

"Is there anyone you'd want to do this about?" The blonde guy asked.

"No. Of course not. Do you think I'm a fag or something?"

"Huh?"

"I don't know any fucking poets. I could care less." I crossed my arms and sank further down into my seat.

"Okay. I'll choose then."

"Whatever."

Another round of giggles from my friends.

"Hey, Josh. You two gettin' married yet?" Benjamin, the class geek said. All the guys started howling laughing.

I got up from my chair. "Are you trying to get me mad?" I took a step towards him.

His eyes widened in fear. "D-dude it's a joke-"

"One more joke and I'll turn you into one, got it?"

"Yeah, sorry-"

"Shut up."

I sat back down and crossed my arms.

"So... how do you feel about Oscar Wilde?" The blonde dude began again.

"I don't know. I don't care!"

"Well, we're kind of supposed to do this assignment together so it'd be nice if you'd participate."

I took a deep, slow breath and turned to him. "At this point you're lucky I even sit next to you, freak."

"What's your deal with me?" He asked.

He was really going to start a fight with me? Me?

"Lover's quarrel." I heard from behind me.

In the heat of the moment I grabbed a pencil and threw it at Benjamin. He was a total nerd. A loser. He had no right to speak. It hit him right in the eye.

"OW!" He cried out.

"Shit!" I said as I shot up from my chair.

"I can't see! I can't see!"

"No way!" One of my friends said.

Oh no! Not again!

"Get him to the nurse!" One of the girls called.

"Alright, quiet down! Pipe down. I'll take him to the nurse, you all just stay calm." Mr. Hammock grabbed Benjamin by the shoulders and led him out of class. "Now, I want to see all of you working hard when I get back! And Joshua, you're in big trouble." The teacher warned.

I sighed. Here we go again.

"Dude, what the fuck." Dave laughed.

I made my way to him. "He totally had it coming." I crossed my arms.

"He could go blind." Dave said, pretending to care. "And more importantly that could be your last strike."

"I know!" I sighed. "My dad's gonna kill me!"

"Hey, at least then you won't have to work with that fag. Seriously, have you seen him?" Dave laughed.

I shook my head. "It's like he's trying to get picked on."

"I'm sure he gets off on it."

We all laughed at that.

"What's he like?" Karl asked, a big smile on his face.

"I don't know. Probably fucking depressed and gay. Look at him."

More laughs.

I looked back at him and noticed him doodling again.

"You know you're gonna have to take him to your place, right? We have to have this thing done this week. Teacher's orders." Dave said smugly.

"What? No way. He can just finish it himself."

"Hammock said it has to be hand-written. He'll be looking for two types of handwriting." Dave smirked.

Just the thought of having someone over at my house made my heart jump into a frenzy with fear.

"Motherfucker."

I made my way back to Sir Anal. "We can't do it at my place." I said, looking anywhere but at him. He looked up from his paper.

"Why not?"

"Does it matter?" He was so good at pissing me off. It was none of his goddamn business.

Anal guy turned back to his notebook and continued doodling. "We can do it at mine then."

"Great" I said sarcastically. I sat down in my chair. "We going to a graveyard?"

"I actually live right next to one." Emo boy said casually.

"Of course you do." I sighed. He didn't speak again. I peeked at his notebook.

His handwriting was elegant, small. Long, curly letters. He even wrote like a girl. He was drawing a skull in the corner of his book. It was very detailed and looked great.

"Don't think this is a date or something. I'm not into bitchy guys." I grumbled.

"So you're more into masculine then." He mumbled absently.

"No, what the fuck. I'm not gay!"

The dude chuckled quietly. It sounded like a fucking five year old, the way he laughed.

I smacked my teeth and sighed.

"But you are, aren't you? I just know you like it up the ass." I muttered.

Bitch boy turned to me ready to respond but then he looked up at something behind me and smiled. It was the kind of smile that was like sunlight from behind clouds. Light in his eyes. I couldn't help but stare at him. It was only when he waved at someone behind me that I snapped out of it.

I turned around and saw a tall ass guy stand behind the window by the door.

The guy had black wavy hair with dark brown highlights. Or... maybe they weren't highlights, maybe his damaged ass natural hair was that color and didn't pick up his faggy dye. His eyes were hazel, his face was too small for his massive stature. The guy was like a fucking giant. Well, an underweight one, anyway.

He was smiling so bright it looked like it hurt. There were deep lines carved into his cheeks. It was then that I noticed he had... fangs. Actual fuckin' fangs. He wore a black and white striped knit sweater that had holes all over. A crap ton of chain necklaces and his face was covered in piercings. Two black ones in his lower lip. One stud and one ring in his nose. Another silver ring in his eyebrow and too many to count in his ears. He looked even worse than bitch-boy.

"What the fuck is that?"

Bitch boy didn't respond. He just got up and walked out the door.

He was too short for me to see him in the high window but I could see Dracula talk to him. He was beaming with joy. I'd seen him around school a few times but I had no idea he was a fag. I guess I should have known but he just never struck me as one.

They stood and talked until the bell rang and then finally vampire dude said goodbye and walked off.

Bitch boy came in looking happier than I'd seen him.

"Was that your boyfriend?" I accused.

He stared at me for a while in deliberation. Then he nodded and smiled. "Yeah." He sounded like he was on cloud nine.

"I knew you were a homo." I sighed, turning away.

"So what? I have a boyfriend so you have nothing to worry about." The dude said lightly as he packed his bag.

"Of course I'm not worried. What could you ever do to me?"

Bitch boy smirked but said nothing.

What's that supposed to mean?

"Alright, give me your number." I said unwillingly.

"You're very forward. You don't even know my name and already you want my number."

"You don't know my name either." I sighed, handing him my phone.

"Josh." Bitch boy said as he typed his number into my phone.

I frowned.

He gave me back my phone and grabbed his bag. "See ya." Before I could blink he was out the door.

I looked down at the new contact.

'𝕿𝖎𝖒𝖔𝖙𝖍𝖞' It said in Gothic font.